Intuniv and Irritability: What Users Say

• Kri...
• February 10, 2014

For ADHD "My son is 8 and was diagnosed with ADHD recently. This is the first medication he has taken. We started at 1mg, working our way up to 3mg, and it's taken in the evening around 5pm. Once at 3mg, my son was extremely sleepy, even falling asleep in class and on the bus ride home. He was emotional about everything, even looking for toys, he would cry. He also experienced terrible tummy aches. He became very irritable, I'm guessing because he was sleepy. I had his doctor lower the dosage to 2mg, and he is becoming that little guy I know again! He's still kind of sleepy but not as bad, and his teacher is noticing a big improvement in his focus at school. We are still working out the kinks, but I am hopeful! Best of luck to you all!"

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2010

For ADHD "My son is halfway through his fourth week of Intuniv. We became concerned when he began this last week, when he started taking the highest dose he will be on. For two days, he could hardly get out of bed, was very cranky, and slept for nearly 8 hours on a drive home from school vacation (very unusual for him.) I called his doctor on Monday morning and she said to stick it out a few days. See how he did at school, and with getting up in the morning. The last two days have been problem free. He is MUCH more agreeable than ever. He is less emotional (a good thing), less cranky. He is remembering all the things he should. Overall his behavior is better. We have tried many different medications and so far this is the most effective."

• lce...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 23, 2017

For ADHD "I would like to share my experience with Intuniv for those specifically with comorbid ADHD/Bipolar. It initially improved working memory (easier to take time to perform tasks such as not jumping ahead while reading), then, as it works on 2A receptors, created a DECREASED DESIRE to perform the tasks. Essentially, it lowers NE. So, lower motivation, which nearly completely negates the easier task performance. THIS IS A COMMON THREAD. Therefore, works better in conjunction with stims. It also created depersonalization. Finally, it caused a unique mixed episode with grandiosity and irritability, but psychomotor retardation and grumpiness. Think increased prefrontal, decreased limbic. Bipolars BEWARE. We are different than strict ADHD cases."

• spe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2020

For ADHD "While Intuniv didn't help me focus as well as Vyvanse or Ritalin, it still helps a fair amount with staying focused without any of the irritability. It also takes quite a while to start working. Overall, I'd give it a try; I've been on it for roughly 10 years now."

• jms...
• October 30, 2016

For ADHD "Our son has been on Intuniv for 3 years. We started in kindergarten when he was diagnosed with ADHD. He is very impulsive, not easily compliant, with underlying anxiety. The behavioral issues in school were challenging, so we began at 1mg. A BIG NOTE HERE: I have read reviews, and I'm surprised a doctor prescribes this medication to a patient at a higher dosage! Always start at 1mg and increase as time goes on, if needed. My son was on 1mg for a year, then we increased to 2mg in October. By the following summer, I reduced back to 1mg. However, had to raise it again one month into school. We were able to get through that school year on 2mg. Now, in Year 3, we increased to 3mg 3 days ago. Does anyone have experience with 3mg with their 8-year-old? He is very sleepy as he adjusts and irritable, takes naps, wakes up, and seems happy again."

• Jan...
• September 27, 2017

For ADHD "My eight-year-old started this medication after a failed trial of stimulants. Prior to that, he had extensive behavioral therapy. In addition to ADHD, he has a tic disorder and sleep onset disorder. The stimulants exacerbated his tic, causing muscle strain and pain. This medication has helped with all of the above and takes the edge off of his difficult personality. He will now sit still and read a book. He is still irritable at times, but this has always been a problem for him; I don't feel this medication has made it any worse. Last year, his standardized test showed below-basic comprehension. The school feels this was due to his lack of impulse control on multiple-choice tests more than a lack of knowledge. We've got high hopes for a better school year."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2018

For ADHD "My 8-year-old daughter started this medication to help her behavior in school along with her other stimulant medication she takes for ADHD. This medication increased her irritability, aggression, and changed her happy, sweet self. It did not help her, it made her symptoms worse. Took her off of it as it didn't improve anything besides making her overly tired and grumpy. Increasing her bad behavior. Stimulants work best, but will try more behavioral therapy along with her current medication that helps, as Intuniv didn't help any behavior issues and being impulsive in my daughter."

• Van...
• April 14, 2017

For ADHD "My son took generic for about 6 months. His Dr. actually prescribed it to him to help him sleep. He has ADHD combined type with emotion dysregulation. I actually can't believe it was prescribed to help control ADHD behaviors. My son was taking Vyvanse during the day, then Guanfacine at night. It made him extremely irritable and tired. I took him off both of the meds. He's hyper but a whole lot less frustrated, that's for sure."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2022

For ADHD "I have been using Intuniv 2 mg alongside Adderall IR 30-40 mg/day. I have been on the Adderall for many years, and it is very helpful for planning, focus, and following through with things, but it most definitely has some side effects that are related to its stimulant effects: anxiety, restlessness, agitation, etc., which are all pretty normal for stimulants. Lowering the dose of the stimulant can help, but then the positive benefits are not as pronounced, in my experience. After a few months of discussing this with my doctor, we decided to try guanfacine ER (Intuniv). My experiences with this drug combination have been life-changing. If you look up 'guanfacine and stimulants' on PubMed or Google, you will see there are a number of studies that show they synergize very well. I feel as though I have all of the benefits from the Adderall, but now the anxiety and restlessness are very much turned down. The effects of both seem to last all day. I am also sleeping better. Amazing."

• Rem...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2023

For ADHD "I was 25 when I got my ADHD diagnosis and have been on Intuniv for almost 2 years now. I am currently taking 4 mg a day and not seeing or feeling any positive effects from it. It feels like it just makes me incredibly tired and irritable. It constantly gives me a dry mouth and just doesn't seem to help me at all."

• Lor...
• September 26, 2010

For ADHD "My son is 12 and was on Focalin for about 3 years. It worked OK, but he had problems with appetite, irritability, and mood swings. This summer we started him on Intuniv and completely dropped Focalin. The behavior and personality are great now. He is the sweetest boy when on Intuniv. He grew 3 inches in 3 months and gained weight (which is great for him!). However, huge side effects are sleepiness, tiredness, and headaches (which he never had before). School work or homework remains undone. We have issues at school where teachers are complaining that he just does not care about anything and does not participate in class. We have huge issues with completing homework. I am very frustrated."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2010

For ADHD "My seven-year-old son has been on Intuniv for three weeks now. His behavior at school and home is finally starting to improve. He is much more focused and less irritable. Although at the end of week one and the beginning of week two of this medicine, he was very cranky and irritable. He is sleepy in the afternoons, but he also takes Clonidine along with this medicine, which also makes him sleepy. So I hope the sleepiness improves. He has started the last week having severe stomach pain. He gets up many times in the night saying his tummy feels funny, and he gets some diarrhea in the night. He also has a harder time staying asleep at night, which is new. Hoping the stomach pain stops so we can continue the medicines, as I feel they are helping him."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2010

For ADHD "My seven-year-old son has been on Intuniv for three weeks now. His behavior at school and home is finally starting to improve. He is much more focused and less irritable. Although at the end of week one and the beginning of week two of this medicine, he was very cranky and irritable. He is sleepy in the afternoons, but he also takes Clonidine along with this medicine, which also makes him sleepy. So I hope the sleepiness improves. He has started the last week having severe stomach pain. He gets up many times in the night saying his tummy feels funny, and he gets some diarrhea in the night. He also has a harder time staying asleep at night, which is new. Hoping the stomach pain stops so we can continue the medicines, as I feel they are helping him."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2011

For ADHD "My son was diagnosed with ADHD in 4th grade, he's now in 7th. Since that time we've tried many medications. We finally settled on Metadate, and it worked great, but we kept having to up the dosage, until he's now on 60 mg. The doctor recommended adding Intuniv to the Metadate. He was cranky and irritable the first week, but now at week 3 and 2 mg dosage, the crankiness seems to be getting better. What I have seen with Intuniv is that he's very difficult to get up in the mornings. But on a good note, if I miss the Metadate medication, his behavior is still pretty good. He's not bouncing all over the house. When he's on both medications, he's doing really good. I do have hopes to eventually get him off the stimulant altogether."

• Ato...
• December 10, 2017

For ADHD "Used 3-4 mg dose for autism-related meltdowns during teen years. Made my son very irritable and agitated. Did not notice sleepiness. Just an overall grumpy, agitated attitude towards everything."

• Ato...
• December 10, 2017

For ADHD "Used 3-4 mg dose for autism-related meltdowns during teen years. Made my son very irritable and agitated. Did not notice sleepiness. Just an overall grumpy, agitated attitude towards everything."

• Ato...
• December 10, 2017

For ADHD "Used 3-4 mg dose for autism-related meltdowns during teen years. Made my son very irritable and agitated. Did not notice sleepiness. Just an overall grumpy, agitated attitude towards everything."